Berry Tramel: Landry Jones' trip a sign of the times

NORMAN — Bob Stoops says he didn't even know Landry Jones was headed to California over spring break to work out with quarterback guru George Whitfield Jr.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Landry Jones (12) passes during spring football practice for the OU Sooners on the campus of the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., Monday, March 5, 2012. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

Time was, a football coach would be offended by a QB seeking outside counsel. But being offended doesn't get you very far in 21st-century big-time athletics.

When a guy who would have been a top-10 NFL Draft pick decides to stick around for a fifth year of college football, you don't sweat the details.

“I didn't know he did it,” Stoops said Tuesday of Jones' five days at Stanford University, March 16-21. “But nothing wrong with that. Why not? Always get any little pointers from anyone you can.”

In the olden days, a quarterback listening to other voices, hiring a lay coach, in the middle of spring practice, would have been a rebellious act. Anti-establishment. A clear affront to the coaches back home.

But in this age of AAU basketball coaches, and personal instructors for preteen athletes, and million-dollar coaching contracts trumped only by the professional riches awaiting some of their players, you shrug it off.

Which is why Stoops says neither he nor offensive coordinator Josh Heupel's pride was hurt by Jones' five days with Whitfield.

“I don't think their pride should be hurt,” Jones said. “You've got Sam (Bradford), Jason (White), Heup. This place has been pretty good at turning out quarterbacks.”

Ah, the OU quarterback lineage. One of Stoops' favorite subjects. Stoops gets a little touchy when he thinks anyone is questioning the Sooners' status as a quarterback factory.

Which makes the California trip seems a little curious. Stoops' coaching staff hasn't exactly been derelict in turning out QBs. Bradford tore up his shoulder in 2009 and still was the No. 1 prize in the NFL Draft.

Why would Jones need extra tutoring?

But this is 2012. Elite athletes leave nothing to chance. Andrew Luck, who everyone keeps saying is the best pro quarterback prospect since John Elway, has worked out with Whitfield. Ben Roethlisberger, with two Super Bowls victories already to his credit, hired Whitfield in 2010 while serving a four-game NFL suspension.

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by Berry Tramel

Columnist

Berry Tramel, a lifelong Oklahoman, sports fan and newspaper reader, joined The Oklahoman in 1991 and has served as beat writer, assistant sports editor, sports editor and columnist. Tramel grew up reading four daily newspapers — The Oklahoman,...

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Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at (405) 760-8080 or at btramel@opubco.com. He can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can also view his personality page at newsok.com/berrytramel.

George Whitfield Jr.

Born: Nov. 23, 1977

Company: Whitfield Athletix,which trains quarterbacks.

Pupils: Ben Roethlisberger, Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, Landry Jones.

Staff: One part-time assistant, one intern.

Cost for services: $200 a day for college QBs.

High school: Massillon, Ohio

College: Went to Youngstown State for a year, transferred to Tiffin when then-Youngstown State coach Jim Tressel suggested Whitfield move to a position other than quarterback.